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This villa offers more than a simple vacation. It offers a unique experience: the best of the countryside, the city and the Italian tradition in one location: convenient railway links and easy auto routes to ROME (30 min) make it possible to combine the rustic tranquility of a magical landscape with the excitement of the Eternal City.

The family who owns the villa has always nurtured and shared the pleasure of gathering with friends in the countryside for the family's most important festive occasions. It is in this tradition that the villa was created.

In the Winter of 2015, the villa underwent a major renovation and upgrade. A large new luxurious demonstration kitchen with multiple cook stations and new appliances has been built. The first floor with its 5 bedrooms has been completely renovated and upgraded to a luxury level. New furniture has been added.

EXTRA BEDS: up to 7 extra single beds can be added in the Villa and 25 beds available at b&b next door.

OPTIONAL WEDDING PACKAGES: the villa organizes wedding receptions and offers wedding packages for those looking for a special wedding overseas.

We can make the villa fully catered with cook, daily cleaning, specialty programs itinerary for cooking lessons, including gelato and pizza classes or just pizza parties using our outdoor wood-fired oven, olive oil tours, winery visits, Rome guided tours (either classic/standard or off-the-beaten-track tours), Ferrari rentals etc. all to all to provide a pampered experience, should the guests desire it.

Olive oil tour & tasting:

Visit to an ancient Roman olive grove and a modern olive mill. Learn what the Romans knew about growing olives 2000 years ago. Sample the fine oil lotions and soaps a local artisan produces. We will have a tasting of olive oils and come to understand not just how they are made but what makes an olive oil great.

Cheese tour & tasting:

Visit to a local artisanal buffalo cheese dairy to see and learn how buffalo milk cheese is made and for a delicious tasting of fresh buffalo cheese such as mozzarella, ricotta, stracchino, provolone.

Wine tour & tasting:

Visit to a regional winery that produces some of the best wines of Lazio to see and learn how wine is made, including wine tasting.

Palombara Sabina Medieval castle guided tour:

Private tour of the castle of Palombara Sabina, a medieval town near the villa overlooking the Sabine hills and valley. This is a rare opportunity to visit the castle and museum which is not normally open to the public. The museum hosts two amazing ancient Roman statues. Take time to explore the ancient town.

Tivoli guided tour:

Visit the beautiful and ancient hilltop town of Tivoli for a guided tour of the beautiful gardens of Villa d'Este, where you will be amazed at the ancient villa, gardens and fountains.

Rome guided tour:

We discover the secrets of Ancient Rome. In a special, guided tour of the city, we visit places not normally seen by tourists, making your visit very special and unique. Experience the Rome that the ancients and locals know, with a rare combination of art, culture and history in a very full day experiencing "la dolce vita”. Optional: Dinner at a private luxurious rooftop apartment in the historic center of Rome with breathtaking view of the entire city, including the presidential palace, the Trevi Fountain and many other monuments.

Villa La Cucina Sabina is a rare find!

VILLA GARDEN: The villa is situated in a lush 2-hectare garden surrounded by hundred-year-old olive groves, cypresses, cedars, orange, cherry, and lemon trees as well as a wide range of flowers. Outside the fenced garden, there are 24 hectares of open field.

There is a covered terrace with several tables, chairs, and seating arrangements with couches. Within the landscaped garden is a gazebo with a table and chairs as well as a barbecue and wood-burning oven. There is a large swimming pool (20m x 10m) and private pool house with showers and a sauna. The pool is FENCED (photos were taking prior to fencing it).

Access to the villa is via a paved road three kilometers from the main road of Salaria and parking is available within the property grounds.

INTERIORS (800m2): The interior provides an atmosphere of art, culture, and appreciation for the finest that modern design has to offer, both stimulating the intellect and giving pause to reflect and relax in an environment made warm by the richness and elegance of its design details. The spacious living room has couches, a fireplace, satellite TV, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look onto the gardens. There is a separate dining room and attached to it a huge new luxurious kitchen with multiple cook stations and new appliances. On the ground floor a beautiful windowed gallery leads to a separate suite of three bedrooms that offers direct access to the garden. Each of the three bedrooms has a 200 cm king--sized bed that can split into twins and en-suite bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower.

A beautiful wooden staircase of 12 steps leads to five newly renovated bedrooms, each with 200 cm king--sized bed that can split into twins and en-suite bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. Two of the five bedrooms upstairs are suites with en-suite bathroom with sink, toilet, shower and bathtub opening into the bedroom.

All 8 bedrooms are air conditioned and have tv. No need to miss the comforts of home!

COUNTRYSIDE & SABINA REGION: the villa is part of a 20-hectare private estate, with olive groves, cherry grove, a big pond. Staying at the villa is a great way of getting to know Sabina, the wonderful region north of Rome, a land of hills clothed with olive trees and oak woods, embraced by the Apennine Mountains and scattered with small medieval towns, castles and monasteries, rich with history, culture and nature, and only 30 minutes from the Eternal City.

Bedrooms

8 Bedrooms

Sleeps 23

Property Manager

Giuseppe Micheletta

Member Since 2009

Speaks

english, french, italian

Calendar last updated:

21 Jan 2019

About Giuseppe Micheletta

Giuseppe was born and raised in Rome, Italy. With his paternal roots deep in Southern Italy and his maternal ones deep in Northern Italy, he grew up breathing the amazing cultural diversity of its beloved country. He worked as a lawyer and he served as a young city councilor in Rome. He then moved to the US, where he graduated from Columbia Law school and practiced law in NY for a few years. When he came back to Italy to get married at the family villa with guests from all over the world, he re-discovered the beauty of his country and realized that he wanted to live and follow his passion of creating his own business to "promote" the amazing food and culture of Italy to people around the world. He moved back to Italy, had two children and started the villa business with those things in mind. He then met an Italian American guy with similar passions and a similar dream of starting a food-related business in Italy. This guy, Mike, was a guest at the villa and so it was natural that they started talking, exchanging emails and ideas about creating this great business together and so, we embarked.
My family has always nurtured and shared the pleasure of gathering with friends in the countryside for the family's most important festive occasions. It is in this tradition that my father built the villa in the early 1980's. An inspiring work of architecture, the three-story villa was designed by Gustavo Polimeni to evoke the lines and vision of the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Giuseppe Micheletta purchased this Villa in 1982

Why Giuseppe Micheletta chose Montelibretti

From Rome city center it takes only thirty minutes to reach the Sabina region, where the villa is located, and discover its culture, history, and the flavors of its land. Nestled in a magical landscape, the villa is of rare beauty. For those who love tranquility, art, nature, and design, Villa La Cucina Sabina will provide an unforgettable vacation or event experience unlike any other.

All 8 en-suite bathrooms have been recently renovated and upgraded to a luxury level. The two villa suites have large en-suite luxury bathrooms with large showers and bath tubes with folding doors opening into the bedroom.

Location Type

Mountain

The villa is located 20 min drive from the Monti Lucretili mountain range less than 1 hour drive from the Central Appenines and Mount Terminillo.

Rural

Town

Village

Meals

Catering available

General

Wood Stove

Outdoor wood-fired oven and BBQ.

Telephone

Available for emergency calls.

Heating

Central heating available upon request, € 50 per day; generally, in the Rome area heating is used starting end of October until March/Mid April depending on the weather and guests’ preferences.

Linens Provided

Washing Machine

Tumble Dryer

Fireplace

2 fireplaces. They can be used only upon express authorization by the owner.

Parking

Garage

Available upon request only for specific needs.

Internet

Towels Provided

Sunbed

Fitness Room / Equipment

Tennis, Ping Pong, weight equipment.

Wireless Internet

Free WiFi available.

Air Conditioning

All bedrooms & kitchen/dining area are air conditioned.

Iron & Board

Activities Guide

Hair Dryer

Laundry Soap

Local Activities Guide

Paper Towels

Local Restaurant Guide

Shampoo

Basic Soaps

Toilet Paper

Living Room

Huge living room with TV, fireplace, gran piano.

Printer

Scanner

Free Wifi

Kitchen

4 Ring Stove

Dishwasher

Freezer

5 freezers available.

Stove

3 professional cooking stations on the huge central island of the kitchen, all available to the guests.

House Rules

Cancellation Policy

45 Reviews

Exceptional5/5

1 - 6 of 45

Wonderful vacation in a beautiful villa in a stunning location.

5/5

Stayed Aug 2018

Steve F.Manchester

I have rented homes many times around the world over the past 20 years and Villa Tartaruga is one of the best, offering an unparalleled experience of house quality, location and outstanding cuisine. I would not hesitate to return to this beautiful villa.

Submitted 1 Sep 2018

A piece of Italian heaven

5/5

Stayed Jun 2018

Cathrine K.

Giuseppe have managed to create a piece of Italian heaven in the small town of Palombara Sabina just outside of Rome. We rented the villa to have our wedding. We were a total of 16 people that arrived almost a week prior to the wedding. And immediately we were mesmerized by the beautiful surroundings and the beautiful and well kept villa. The pool area are well kept with comfortable furnitures. The villa it self was impressive with large bedrooms all with their own bathroom. Spacious living room and a kitchen/ dining room to die for. The villa has several porches, that was a great feature, since we was traveling with teenagers and they could stay on the backside porch witch had table tennis and some workout equipment. During our stay we had a surprise celebration for my sisters 40th birthday. Carla the amazing chef prepared a wonderful dinner with the best lasagna and chocolate cake we ever had! Giuseppe were really forthcoming in helping us making reservations and made suggestions for places to see in Rome. He even popped by with fresh figs and vegetables from the garden! When we booked villa Tartaruga to have our wedding at, Nanci - Giuseppe’s sister in law was my coordinator. She did an amazing job and no question was to small or stupid. She even coordinated with the B&B next door where our other guests were staying. Nanci did a tremendous job on the wedding day, allowing me relax and enjoy the day and night. On the night before the wedding we had a pizza and prosecco party with all of our guests. That was a big hit with the pizza being made outside in a big pizza oven. And the pizza was amazing!

Giuseppe has not only created a piece of heaven, he has also put together an amazing crew who do they very best so that we could have the best vacation ever.

I would recommend everyone who is looking to have a wedding/ celebration/ culinary vecation or simply looking for a place to relax just a short train ride outside of Rome to consider Villa Tartaruga.

We hope to return sometime soon!

Submitted 18 Jul 2018

A beautiful place to stay and vacation.

5/5

Stayed Jun 2018

Rod L.

We spent a week with our family and enjoyed our time immensely. The villa is beautiful and the countryside views were incredible.

Upsides:

-Management and staff were very responsive to our needs

-Location is just north of Rome and has a country feel with farms all around. The train station is only a 5 minute drive.

-We opted for chef prepared breakfast along with most dinners and would do it again. The food was delicious and varied. Kitchen was kept spotless by the chef.

-House is beautiful and the pool is great.

To improve:

We only had house keeping one day for the week we were there. They didn't make a couple of our beds and simply laid the replacement towels in a stack in the living room. They didn't refresh the bathrooms during the cleaning day. An area they can improve upon.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

5/5

Stayed Mar 2018

Léni H.

I left a part of my heart at La Cucina Sabina.... it's true. There's something so magical about this place that it's difficult to put it into words. From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed with open arms by the owner and staff at this charming villa that sits on 60 acres of rolling hills and luscious olive trees. What's amazing is it's just a short 40 minute drive from bustling Rome, but when you're here, you feel like you're hundreds of miles away. My room was so welcoming with special touches such as olive oil based amenities, high-end bathroom fixtures and a very comfortable bed outfitted with luxury linens. The fireplace in the main living room and the outdoor seating areas were so relaxing - the perfect place to read a good book.

Our days were filled with some of the most amazing food that I've ever eaten. And when I say FILLED, I mean it! The "Nonna" named Carla that works tirelessly in the kitchen to cook your daily meals was nothing short of amazing. Her English is weak, but her skills are strong! From veal saltimbocca to the best pesto I've ever had to simply fresh salads and grilled vegetables to appetizers shaped like penguins made from olives and mozzarella! Carla is the Italian grandmother we all wish we had growing up, and the secret ingredient of every meal is love. She's always eager to teach you how she does it. She taught me how to make homemade pasta, which was such an amazing experience! And the pizza-making class was so much fun.

In addition to the enchantment of the food at the villa, we took off-the-beaten-path trips to nearby towns with our own personal guides. We walked the tiny cobblestone streets of Orvieto, situated high atop a volcanic mountain. We toured the expansive gardens of Tivoli and dined "al fresco" at the historic Sabilla Ristorante with views that were simply breathtaking. We climbed to the top of the tower and dined inside the castle at Polambara Sabina! Every day was a curated experience that you really can't find anywhere else.

We learned about the incredible olive oil harvested right here at La Cucina Sabina through a guided tasting. Olive oil is to Sabina what wine is to Tuscany. It really is something special. And now I know how to spot a quality olive oil when I'm shopping at home!

I will always think fondly of my time spent at this special place. I feel like I got to experience "the real Italy." No tourist traps, no long lines or crowds. Everything was personalized. Everything was authentic.

Submitted 15 Mar 2018

A Magical Week in Paradise

5/5

Stayed Mar 2018

Meredith P.

From the moment you arrive you cannot help being swept away by the 60, beautiful lush acres that La Cucina Sabina sits upon. It's a hideaway in the hillsides; close enough to Rome and surrounding towns to visit for the day, but far enough away to to escape everyday life. We were warmly greeted by Giuseppe, one of the hosts and by Carla, the "Nonna" of the house who whipped up a "small" lunch for us. Nothing is small in Sabina; from the expansive views, treasure trove of ancient architecture, and especially the meals. Each day brought a new adventure with it; exploring Orvieto, the Villa d'Este and gardens of Tivoli that included lunch "al fresco" with the most breathtaking view you have ever seen, a private castle tour in Palombara Sabina, wine tasting, an olive oil tour & tasting (not all olive oil is created equally!), cooking lessons at the villa, a day trip to Rome and so much more.

One of my favorite parts was how not touristy the areas we visited were. Having local hosts guide us through the Sabina region and Rome really gave us a unique opportunity to experience the real Italy. It gave me an appreciation of the country that I might not have experienced on a huge group tour. Plus, the food! Focaccia as light as air, sweet Sabina olive oil, fresh herbs picked straight from La Cucina Sabina's garden, homemade pesto bursting with flavor and so much more. I'm not sure if I miss the food more or seeing Carla's bright, shining face every morning cooking up another delightful meal, encouraging us to join in the fun. The kitchen truly is the heart of the home at La Cucina Sabina.

I cannot say enough about this enchanting family resort in Sabina. You have to experience it yourself, and trust me, you will not regret it.

Submitted 14 Mar 2018

1 - 6 of 45

Location

Montelibretti, Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, Italy

THE SABINA REGION

Sabina is a beautiful region Northeast of Rome. An enchanted and ancient land of hills clothed with olive trees and oak woods, embraced by the Apennine mountains and scattered with small medieval towns, castles and monasteries, the Sabina region represents one of the few remaining unspoiled regions in the Rome area, still untouched by mass tourism.

The Sabina region is commonly known for the “rape of the Sabines”, a famous episode in the legendary early history of Rome. The legend goes that at the beginning of their civilization (2.700 years ago), the Romans, seeking wives in order to find families, kidnapped thousands of beautiful Sabine women (in this context “rape” means “kidnapping”). The Sabina region, however, is much more than this legend.

In the Rieti valley (north of Sabina), for instance, San Francesco d’Assisi (San Francis) started his spiritual journey: from Greccio, a small medieval town, departs the beautiful San Francis Walk. If you drive along the Ternana Road (SS 313) (state road no. 313, off km 35 of Salaria Road, direction Passo Corese), you will encounter amazing places such as the Farfa Abbey, an ancient marvellous Benedictine abbey of the VIII century, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Vescovio, an evocative compound built around the ancient Cattedrale dei Sabini (Sabinos’ Cathedral), and Casperia, a wonderful intact medieval town on top of a hill overlooking a fantastic valley. Worth visiting also the towns of Fara Sabina and Montecelio.

East of Sabina region there is the town of Tivoli (30 minute drive from the villa), which is famous worldwide for two of the most beautiful villas of the ancient Roman era and the Italian renaissance; both are part of UNESCO world heritage sites: Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este.

The Villa is located near the medieval town of Palombara Sabina, in a quiet rural area only 30 minutes from Rome, by car or by train. There is a train station 3 min drive from the Villa, from where there are frequent trains to Rome City Center (30 minute ride) and Fiumicino Airport (1 hour and 15 min ride).

PALOMBARA SABINA

Palombara Sabina is a charming medieval town, built on a hill at the foot of mount Gennaro and surrounded by century-old olive threes and cherry trees typical of the region. Palombara Sabina has everything you may need: stores, restaurants, post office, hospital, carabinieri, etc.

Of particular interest is the beautiful Medieval Savelli-Torlonia Castle, which is located in the old town, on top of the hill. In the castle there is recently opened small museum where you can see an amazingly well-preserved ancient Greek-Roman statue of Zeus. The other landmark of Palombara Sabina is the Abbey of San Giovanni in Argentella, a Benedict abbey (open Sundays 10-12 and 16-18, closed most of August).

SABINA OLIVE OIL

Superb olive oil has been produced in the sweet hills of Sabina since long before the founding of Rome. Today, Sabina oil is considered one of the finest in Italy.

Sabina was the first region in Italy to receive the European DOP (Protected Denomination of Origin) certification for an olive oil.